My name is Dave, and this is my first post on here, but I've been spending quite a bit of time soaking up as much information as I can. I purchased this poor, neglected 83 Aspencade for $500 this past October.

I saw it listed on a Facebook local motorcycle for sale page, saying that the bike was in good condition, with "rod knock off idle". Well, you and I know that usually means the carbs need attention, so I called a buddy with a truck, picked up a Uhaul trailer, and drove about an hour and a half to check this thing out, because I just finished a previous restoration project, and needed something new to tinker on.

The bike was missing the battery side cover, had the rear master cylinder in pieces in the trunk, and generally looked neglected. I loaded her up, brought her home, and let it sit for the winter on the center stand, as I live in an apartment and have a garage with no heat or electricity.

I have a really severe case of "while-you're-at-it" syndrome, so next thing I knew, the motor was out, wheels were off, and the bike was stripped almost all the way down. I've been pretty busy the last few months...
-new wheel bearings
-swing arm bearings
-output shaft bearing
-spark unit driveshaft bearing (which was in awful shape)
-water pump
-clutch
-stator
-rebuilt starter clutch
-cleaned oil pickup
-painted the engine
-timing belts (which were 34 year old, 37,000 mile original Honda belts)
-tires
-radiator hoses
-thermostat
-radiator cap
-throttle, choke and clutch cables
-adjusted valves
-ultrasonically cleaned the carbs and rebuilt with Randakk's kit
-cleaned and de-rusted the gas tank (Evaporust is the best product I have ever used!!!)
-new fuel lines
-rebuilt fuel pump
-rebuilt both master cylinders and all three calipers with EBC pads
-plastic jacketed braided stainless lines (they look stock!)
-replaced every single rubber seal and gasket in the motor
-serviced the driveshaft
-greased and cleaned the entire frame
-buffed and waxed all the paint (I still have to repaint the trunk lid. The clear is shot)
-dyed the seat (which had a bad case of the brown grunge)
-reconditioned the wheels
-sanded and polished the forks, valve covers, and timing belt covers
-installed new mirrors and the biggest Slipstreamer windshield they make
-restored all of the chrome
-serviced the air suspension
-replaced every bulb on the bike
-and more cleaning that care to think about

I still have a bit of work left to do. I need to put the motor back in the bike, hopefully this Sunday, and button up a few loose odds and ends. I bought this bike to turn back to stock and enjoy it for the long distance machine it is. I've also got an 81 CB750 that is a blast, but my better half doesn't like riding on the back of it, so I figured I'd buy a road couch for her to sit on. Now she has no reason to not go on a ride with me!

Thanks for reading my story. I'll keep uploading more as I make more progress. I'm hoping just another week or two before she's all done. I would love to make it to Mid Ohio Vintage Days with this bike, but if not, I'll have my CB750 there.

Last edited by DWade1990 on Fri Jun 23, 2017 8:49 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Just in case anybody is interested in seeing it, this is my 81 CB750. It was more of a "resto-mod". 4-1 exhaust, jetted up 1 size, rebuilt carbs (again with Randakk), valve job, brakes, bearings, tires, and on and on and on and on......

Sharp. Is one of the colors a true black? What do you mean by "hand cut and rub"?

I believe the bike is nimbus grey with a blue secondary color. I can find the nimbus grey paint code, but I have no idea what the blue color is called.

When I say hand cut and rub, I mean using an abrasive cutting buffing compound, which is normally done with a buffer, but i have to do it by hand, since i have no electricity in my garage. Rub means the same thing, but with a polishing compound. Sorry, body shop lingo haha.

Well I spent all day Sunday putting the motor back in the bike, wrestling with throttle cables, and doing some buttoning up. My list still has a few boxes to be checked before she's road worthy, but I got it far enough to fire it for just a second.

Choke on, ignition off, and a few cranks to get the oil circulated. Switched to run, bumped the start button, and she was instantly alive! Nice and quiet, idled nice, and sounded good.

I didn't want to run it more than a few seconds, as I don't have any coolant in it at the moment, but it sure was nice to hear her come to life, if even for just a second.

I'm planning on getting this thing buttoned up shortly. I've have more photos tomorrow.

Here she is in all her glory! I have to say that I'm completely blown away by this incredible machine! I've never in my life been on a bike like this one. It's so smooth, quiet, comfortable and powerful. I get what these bikes are all about now.

I still have a little bit of tinkering to do before it's 100% done. I just have distilled water in the cooling system for now, and the carbs need to be synched on the bike (but boy is my bench synch close!).

Wow. All that elbow grease really paid off. Love the front wheel and shocks. Even the Eagle looks like new. Hope all the bells and whistles work. I got my '82 w/19K under similar circumstances. I put alot of "scrub" it it too, but yours takes the cake. I must say that in keeping my bike outdoors and covered it has lost some shine over the past 3 or so years, hence my question re: "hand cut and rub." BTW, I figured out how to download your pictures and view them that way since they were too large to view otherwise. Good luck.

WOW! I thought I really did a lot of work to get my 85 limited going but I sit here in awe of you talents and work ethic! Thanks so much for sharing, I have so much respect for people who do hard work like this.

What a beauty job, I had the exact same bike, colour, everything. I bought it with just over 100,000 kilometers [ Canada Eh ] and sold it with over 400,000. Only put a rt head gasket and pulled the fuel tank to get cleaned and epoxied. A few bits like ignition switch and turn signal switch and used starter. Sold it to my BIL neighbour and he spruced it up. Not sure were it is now but loved my first wing. Running an 04 1800 now. Congrats

Congratulations on the rebuilding of the 83 Aspencade. I wish I had had the place and experience to do the same to the one i had. The early 80s models are still the best looking wings made as far as I am concerned and yours looks great. I now own my 3rd Wing: 2008 GL1800. Ride safe

I'm taking this bike even further down that the 83 in this thread. It's getting the full treatment, plus powdercoating and paint. Boy, there must be something wrong with me to keep doing this to myself over and over haha!